last before Christmas

Well, the last meeting of the term happened last Thursday and we made sugar cookies – a traditional American Christmas biscuit. For a number of reasons, I think this was our best time together yet. The kids were like wild animals when they arrived (that time of year, I guess?!?) so I told them very calmly that I would be monitoring their behaviour and unless they could prove they could cook in a well-behaved and calm way, I would have to tell them they couldn’t come back after Christmas. Well, they all did fab. Well done kids. And in the calmness, some really good cooking happened; they all concentrated really well and figured out ingredients and measurements (sort of!) on their own. I’m really proud of them.

I made sure they had cookie dough already made up so they began by rolling and cutting their shapes. While they cooked in the oven, they made their own dough from scratch to take home to make more biscuits with family. Washing up went very well. Everyone helped without needing to be asked. I even had a brainwave to ask the more restless boys to hoover which they were very excited about!

We then had a short reflection time looking at some frescos by the artist Giotto that tell the Christmas story (Godly Play resources from SCEC). Again, all the kids listened well and got really into the discussion. The wondering questions are still strange for them. I tell them there are no right and wrong answers and that we’ll just consider the answers to the questions inside ourselves but still they all put hands up and gesture excitedly. The last wondering question was ‘which image makes them most excited about Christmas’. Quite a few pointed immediately at the visitation of the magi and said it was because of the presents!! Ah well. Kids will be kids... Then, we only just had enough time to ice the biscuits before parents arrived. The all refused to use the green icing (made from natural colourings) because it looked like bogies! They do make me smile!

Thanksgiving

It's that time of the year when everything is so manic finding time to blog is becoming a challenge. Our thanksgiving session two weeks ago went well. The news that we were making cheesecake was met with disappointment which surprised me. Turns out, most of them think cheesecake is made with actual cheese!?! Also, for next time, I must remember that spreading cheesecake filling over a non-chilled, low fat biscuit base makes for major biscuit detachment. Thank heavens I'd brought extra filling and a couple of spatulas…

All the kids listened very well to the short history of thanksgiving (dressed as Indians and pilgrims) and the sample thanksgiving food I'd made (cornbread/pumpkin pie/sweet potato) was met with suitable "yuck" reactions though they were brave enough to try a forkful of most things.

Finding volunteers seems to be an ongoing pressure. I only need 3 adults besides me but finding helpers who aren't tied up looking after kids/working/not CRB checked is proving a nightmare.

I can't believe this week's session is the last one before Christmas. I can totally see why leaders of pioneering projects can't always be reflecting on the big picture/strategic effectiveness of their work as the day to day running requires so much energy. We're going cookie crazy this session. (Many thanks to my Mum who made batches of dough ahead of time while I was away at Cliff last week). I'm also hoping to do some godly play style reflection and if I've enough money in the budget, icing a small Christmas cake competition. Bring it on.

Bonfire night

Another good meeting yesterday although three of my children didn’t make it. I’ll have to give my absentees a call and see if they’re ok. We made apple and berry slice then played guess the vegetable. They guessed the courgette and butternut squash right but struggled with the parsnip and aubergine. I then had cooked samples for them to taste. They like the butternut squash soup more than I thought they would. And all the parsnips were devoured. I then attempted reflection time on Bonfire Night following the success of reflection on Halloween and All Saints last time but I had totally failed to think of any Godly Play-style wondering questions beforehand (can anyone think of any in hindsight?) so it turned into more of a test of their Guy Fawkes knowledge and a general chat about fireworks. The bulk of the conversation focused on a story they’d heard that day in assembly about a girl who’d had her fingers blown off because she lit a firework when told not to. Nice.

I’m pleased that I’m getting time to have more conversation with the kids. They’re so funny. Their wit and energy is so refreshing despite the fact that it takes them half an hour to decide whose in whose team for the quiz. Honesty.

It’s thanksgiving next time. I’ve asked an American lady who occasionally comes to church to talk us through the origins of this American festival complete with fancy dress Indian headdresses and pilgrim white collars as my knowledge of american history is decidedly sketchy. I’m looking forward to it. Not sure what main dish to make with the kids. Chocolate cake was their suggestion yesterday. After chocolate brownies and rocky road, I’m all-chocolated out. Cheesecake maybe? (too challenging?) Or flapjack? (too easy?) Also beginning to consider savoury options though I want to steer clear of raw meat and it needs to be something that they can mix up and then can go in the oven or fridge without any hob or oven work prior to that...other than homemade pizza, not sure what else might work. Any suggestions?

Third meeting

I'm delighted to say every time we meet, it gets better, easier and more fun! We went totally chocolate today with Rocky Road (main recipe) and, along with a seasonal quiz (about halloween and All saints day), we made chocolate apples (instead of toffee apples as those are far too complicated!) decorated with chocolate button eyes and marshmallow noses etc. We're certainly scoring high on the old fun factor! We even had 4 rounds of "In the jungle, the mighty jungle..." while we did the washing up...

Not so sure about the low-maintenance factor. It feels just about manageable for one person in a "bit more than spare time" role (me). I was more aware of the two tasks I juggle in this project, preparing for this session. The recipe planning and shopping is one task (one I find quite easy though still needing time and effort). The other task is the planning for the festival/reflective input and the overall responsibility for the relational aspects of the project. They are quite different tasks using different skills. Ideally, you could do with two people planning it together. And it does make me think the key to low-maintenance is good team work, which is an additional challenge for someone being asked to begin a project on their own.

Aside from the challenges of planning and preparing, my team are fab and so much more than I expected. Adele just instinctively gets on and clears up. Abi is both fab at practical and relational stuff and slotting in where needed (her support has been invaluable) and Jamie's just cool (she's 15 so like a big sister to the kids). One of the mum's stayed this time too which was great. So in terms of the actual meetings, it works really well.

So bring on next session. Nov 5th so the theme will be Bonfire night, of course. Not sure yet what to make...how do you top bowls of melted chocolate? I'm thinking about gingerbread or parkin. I just hope the kids like ginger unlike my fussy four year old. Also got to read up on Guy Fawkes so I sound like I know what I'm talking about in the reflection time...

Second meeting today

Yes, it was chocolate brownies today. The smell was intoxicating...just at the wrong time of day as well i.e. right before dinner. The kids were much calmer today (and I certainly was) so three cheers for that. They still seemed to really enjoy themselves despite me getting more school-marm-like to get them to pay attention more quickly.

Washing up with the kids took ages (as chocolate brownie mixture turns washing up water into brown soup with just the dunk of one mixing bowl) but they really got into the game (design a dish out of 3 specified ingredients plus 2 you know you have at home-winner gets to take ingredients home) and craft (pear place names using cloves for initials plus ribbon). My team of 3 helpers were brilliant. We all agreed we could do with one more helper so the recruitment drive continues. I'd love to be able to involve someone who isn't already heavily involved in other stuff at church. I think I'll chat to some folk face to face (rather than via the notice sheet) and see if I can charm them into helping.

Chatted with one of the mums today who was taking minutes at the funding meeting I had to present at last week. The issue of paying a fee for each session is clearly a concern for many who sit on funding bodies such as these. The feedback during and after the meeting included concern that not all families would be able to come if we charged (even a small fee) and therefore we have limited our catchment. My reflection is that with 12 spaces, we are limited anyway but I did gain some good ideas for how I might connect with a greater diversity of social backgrounds after Christmas.

Also, discovered my funding bid to another charity responded positively. Great news!

Another new experience

Having just about recovered from leading my first school assembly and running my first cookery session, on Wednesday I elected to stand up in front of 30 representatives of my local community and make a bid for a small grant request for my project. I wasn't sure what to expect but everyone seemed very positive and they've given the project some money. All sorts of suggestions were made to expand, involve others etc It's all very encouraging...

Reflection on first meeting

Been five days since first meeting. Still processing it, even now.

I think it went well. 11 of the 12 children arrived all with their money. 11 beautiful apple crumbles were made. Washing up was done, equipment labelled, rules decided upon and fun game played at end. Kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. So job done.

Or was it? Why was I up thinking about it in the middle of night? Yet again, I have deep appreciation for all those who run these kinds of projects. I was surprised by how the time goes by so fast. My fear is that the downside of the fun and energy created is that every session will pass as a blur of flour and sugar with no time to take anything in or get to know the kids a bit more.

However, maybe I shouldn't be too over analytical with just one session under my belt. As this is the first time I've ever done anything like this, I suspect the considerable feelings of frenzy are not helped by my brain working overtime...

First meeting today

Very excited. First time we meet is today. Assembly advertising plus fliers have done the stuff and I have filled all my 12 places. Got all the equipment. Kids all VERY excited so their parents tell me. Ready to go...

However, also having last minute doubts about this will ever be anything like a fresh expression in the proper sense. But that's good, isn't it, because that way something contextual may emerge rather than imposition of something without consultation.

The good news is that this way, the church can offer something to people in the community beyond it's current membership. I'd rather help with that than do something vaguely trendy for people who are already Christians but fed up with church. There are groups round here for that already so it's nice to feel I'm not replicating something already being done.

I have a growing sense that it is important to keep my current project "neutral space" to get to know people. It's good loving service and community engagement.

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. I still need to work out how to get all my bits and pieces round to the church without a car as Paul's run off with it on a work thing...

I survived!

I'm pleased to report the school assembly went very well indeed. I did a Ready Steady Cook thing with a bag of supposedly unknown ingredients. With a volunteer each, Abi made trifle and I a cheesecakey thing all in 5 minutes with kids counting down the last crucial 30 seconds. They then nominated two teachers to taste and all voted on which was the yummier dish. I won! I then advertised my cookery based project.

The kids were so cool. It's such a different experience presenting in front of a group of 100 kids than a groups of 100 adults. They get so into it. Their enthusisam and energy is so refreshing compared with the cynicism and weariness you can often feel with a group of adults.

I'm so chuffed to have done it. Right now, I feel high - like there's nothing I can't do - although thinking about it, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to take a senior school assembly so scratch that last thought.

On another matter, entering the whole world of CRB checks has been a bigger deal than I expected. I keep getting conflicting info and processing forms takes more time than I realised. This is all at the same time as waking up to John Humphrys getting cross about excessive checking on the Today programme on Radio 4. I disagree with JH and believe we need to be safe but I note how cumbersome it is to flag up when recruiting volunteers and how careful thought needs to be given to how you phrase it.

Well, things seem to be coming together well. Had an official letter of blessing from the PCC for my project (!?), fingers crossed for my funding applications to be looked on favourably and I've designed and made the fliers.

Fliers are funny things, aren't they? Everything seems so much more official when you've got a flier which is weird because it's really only a bit of paper that people may or may not look at, let alone decide to do anything about it. I'm aware of the collusive role a flier can play in the whole trap of mounting an "event-based" project - the "build it and they will come" mentality (Field of Dreams film) that just expects people to crawl out of the woodwork rather than invest in personal relationships/invitations. And then people wonder why their mission isn't effective. Anyway, I'm sure you get my drift...

It was good to read John Young's article in the Church Times this week about their fresh expression for children. (p.12) After 6 years, he reflects good connections have less to do with events and more to do with long-term friendship, hospitality and consistancy. Not rocket science but good to have it in print nonetheless.

Guess what? Just to make this whole project thing even more challenging, I've agreed to do a school assembly to advertise my project to the kids!? Am I mad? Any advice from anyone with experience in this kind of thing?

Is anyone else deliberating over how much to plan the content of your project before it actually starts? I'm aware that I'm doing quite a lot of planning. Because I'll be working primarily with children, I think this is OK, and probably very sensible.

However, I'm just aware that any good project shouldn't fall into the client/provider trap that can so easily undermine any sense of belonging, community and shared ownership that benefits everyone involved in projects like this in the long term. We want to get away from laying on a programme for people that encourages passivity or the feeling of being patronised. I love the idea that those involved in my project make it what it is.

I'm also aware that some of last year's students planned material ahead to time which they never used because, as they met, the group together decided the agenda and how they should spend their time together. This is a good reminder that until you've met and built relationships, you can't properly know where they are at and what will bless/engage/encourage them.

So, I conclude a certain amount planning is ok if you hold it lightly and know that you will need to adapt as you get to know people and develop what you are doing...

First blog

Ok, here goes… first blog entry…

Having to plan for MEC3 hard on the heels of my MEC2 assignment has been interesting. I have to confess to feeling a little bit superior on completing my essay (I know, very shameful) because, after the time and effort invested in producing 8,000 words of clarity over what defines an emerging church (or fresh expression), it's easy to find other people's confusion all rather irksome.

However, having to do MEC3 has been good for me. It's very humbling. I have new appreciation for practitioners who are told to begin a fresh expression by their superiors or line managers. I wouldn't change anything I wrote in my essay. I think it still stands but I note that however you define an emerging church when it is up and running, the start-up issues are less straightforward than the theory suggests. Where do you start when you've a "blank sheet of paper"? What happens when you've got limited resources? How do you balance a) where you have to start with b) what you hope it might eventually become and not confuse everyone in the process? Writing an essay doesn't tell you how it all feels when you are in the role of the practitioner faced with these kinds of questions, living with the provisionality of hoping something significant will grow but having no certainty about when, how and what.

On a more positive note, I'm glad to report that I'm getting really quite excited about what I'm planning. My thoughts are never far from what recipes will work well with the kids, what equipment we'll need, etc. I love the fact that cooking is a way in to celebrate life…to create something, to mark the seasons, to bless another person by making them something yummy, think about family traditions…it's all good!